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IBM Accelerates Enterprise Gen AI Revolution with Hybrid Capabilities

  • Build AI agents in 5 minutes with industry’s most comprehensive set of agent capabilities
  • Drive 176% ROI over three years by automating integration across hybrid cloud
  • Turn enterprise data into the most powerful tool with new watsonx.data, which can lead to 40% more accurate AI agents
  • Accelerate secured, scalable AI with 450 billion inference operations per day on new LinuxONE 5

ARMONK, N.Y., May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today at the company’s annual THINK event, IBM (NYSE: IBM) is unveiling new hybrid technologies that break down the longstanding barriers to scaling enterprise AI – enabling businesses to build and deploy AI agents with their own enterprise data.

IBM Corporation logo.
IBM Corporation logo.

IBM estimates that over one billion apps will emerge by 2028, putting pressure on businesses to scale across increasingly fragmented environments. This requires seamless integration, orchestration and data readiness.

A new IBM CEO study shows that business leaders expect the growth rate of AI investments to more than double over the next two years, with most actively adopting AI agents and preparing to scale them. Yet their pace of investments has led to disconnected technology – and only 25% of AI initiatives have achieved the ROI they expected.  

IBM is combining hybrid technologies, agent capabilities and deep industry expertise from IBM Consulting to help businesses operationalize AI.  

“The era of AI experimentation is over. Today’s competitive advantage comes from purpose-built AI integration that drives measurable business outcomes,” said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM. “IBM is equipping enterprises with hybrid technologies that cut through complexity and accelerate production-ready AI implementations.”

Build AI agents in watsonx Orchestrate that work with 80+ leading business applications

AI agents are shifting from AI that chats with you to systems that work for you, yet many enterprises will struggle to integrate them across diverse environments, apps, and data. IBM is providing a comprehensive suite of enterprise-ready agent capabilities in watsonx Orchestrate to help businesses put them into action. The portfolio includes:

  • Build-your-own-agent in under five minutes, with tooling that makes it easier to integrate, customize and deploy agents built on any framework – from no-code to pro-code tools for any kind of user.1
  • Pre-built domain agents specialized in areas like HR, sales and procurement – with utility agents for simpler actions like web research and calculations.2
  • Integration with 80+ leading enterprise applications from providers like Adobe, AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce Agentforce, SAP, ServiceNow, and Workday.
  • Agent orchestration to handle the multi-agent, multi-tool coordination needed to tackle complex projects like planning workflows and routing tasks to the right AI tools across vendors.
    Agent observability for performance monitoring, guardrails, model optimization, and governance across the entire agent lifecycle.3

IBM is also introducing the new Agent Catalog in watsonx Orchestrate4 to simplify access to 150+ agents and pre-built tools from both IBM and its wide ecosystem of partners, which includes Box, MasterCard, Oracle,Salesforce, ServiceNow, Symplistic.ai, 11x and more. For example, the catalog will include a sales agent for discovering and importing prospects that works with and is available in Salesforce’s Agentforce and a conversational HR agent that can be embedded in Slack.

Forrester TEI projects 176% ROI over three years by automating integration of apps, APIs, events, and more across hybrid cloud

As AI adoption accelerates, integration remains a major challenge. Most enterprises rely on a patchwork of APIs, apps, and systems spread across on-prem and multi-cloud environments – many of which weren’t built to work together.  

IBM is introducing webMethods Hybrid Integration5, a next-generation solution that replaces rigid workflows with intelligent and agent-driven automation. It will help users manage the sprawl of integrations across apps, APIs, B2B partners, events, gateways, and file transfers in hybrid cloud environments.

An independent Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact (TEI) study found that a composite organization representative of interviewed customers who adopted multiple webMethods integration capabilities realized over three years6:

  • 176% ROI, plus unquantified benefits such as ease of use, reduced training costs, and improved visibility and security posture
  • 40% reduction in downtime
  • 33% time savings on complex projects
  • 67% time savings on simple projects

This complements IBM’s broader automation portfolio, which spans application development and integration, infrastructure automation and technology business management. Integrations with HashiCorp – including Terraform for infrastructure provisioning and Vault for secrets management – will enhance automation across hybrid environments to support secure configuration, consistent policy enforcement, and scalable operations. Tools like IBM Concert Resilience Posture, along with watsonx and Red Hat technologies, give organizations an intelligent, unified way to manage operations and accelerate AI across hybrid clouds.

Unlocking unstructured data for generative AI

Unstructured data – buried in contracts, spreadsheets, and presentations – is one of the most valuable but underutilized resources in the enterprise. IBM is evolving watsonx.data to help organizations activate this data to drive more accurate, effective AI.7

The new watsonx.data will bring together an open data lakehouse with data fabric capabilities – like data lineage tracking and governance – to help clients unify, govern, and activate data across silos, formats, and clouds. Enterprises will be able to connect their AI apps and agents with their unstructured data using watsonx.data, which tests show can lead to 40% more accurate AI than conventional RAG.8

IBM is also introducing watsonx.data integration, a single-interface tool for orchestrating data across formats and pipelines, and watsonx.data intelligence, which uses AI-powered technology to extract deep insights from unstructured data.9 They will be available as standalone products, with select capabilities also available through watsonx.data – maximizing client choice and modularity.

To complement these products, IBM recently announced its intent to acquire DataStax, which excels at harnessing unstructured data for generative AI. With DataStax, clients can access additional vector search capabilities. Further, watsonx is now integrated as an API provider within Meta’s Llama Stack, enhancing enterprises’ ability to deploy generative AI at scale and with openness at the core.

IBM’s new content-aware storage (CAS) capability is now available as a service on IBM Fusion, with support for IBM Storage Scale coming in 3Q. This provides ongoing contextual processing of unstructured data to make extracted information easily available to RAG applications for faster-time-to-inferencing.

Infrastructure for AI scale

IBM is launching IBM LinuxONE 5, its most secure and performant Linux platform for data, applications, and trusted AI – with the ability to process up to 450 billion AI inference operations per day.10 IBM LinuxONE 5’s innovations include: 

  • IBM’s State-of-the-art AI accelerators, including IBM’s Telum II on-chip AI processor and the IBM Spyre Accelerator (available 4Q 2025 via PCIe card), to enable generative and high-volume AI applications such as transactional workloads.
  • Advanced security offerings with confidential containers to help clients protect their data and new integrations with IBM’s pioneering quantum-safe encryption technology to address quantum-enabled cybersecurity attacks.
  • Significant reductions in costs and power consumption, moving cloud-native, containerized workloads from a compared x86 solution to an IBM LinuxONE 5 running the same software products can save up to 44% on the total cost of ownership over 5 years.11

IBM has also expanded its GPU, accelerator and storage collaborations with AMD, CoreWeave, Intel, and NVIDIA to provide new solutions for compute-intensive workloads and AI-enhanced data.

To see all THINK news, visit the IBM Newsroom.

Statements regarding IBM’s future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and objectives only.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

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1 Planned availability for agent builder capabilities in June 2025
2 HR agent now generally available. Planned availability for sales & procurement agents in June 2025.
3 Planned availability for agent observability capabilities June 2025
4 Planned availability for agent catalog June 2025
5 Planned availability for webMethods Hybrid Integration in June 2025
6 Forrester Consulting, The Total Economic Impact™ of IBM webMethods, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of IBM, 2024
7 Planned availability for new watsonx.data in June 2025
8 Based on IBM internal testing comparing the answer correctness of AI model outputs using watsonx.data Premium Edition retrieval layer to vector-only RAG on three common use cases with IBM proprietary datasets using the same set of selected opensource commodity inferencing, judging and embedding models and additional variables. Results can vary.
9 Planned availability for watsonx.integration and watsonx.data intelligence in June 2025.
10 Performance result is extrapolated from IBM internal tests running on IBM Systems Hardware of machine type 9175. The benchmark was executed with 1 thread performing local inference operations using a LSTM based synthetic Credit Card Fraud Detection model to exploit the Integrated Accelerator for AI. A batch size of 160 was used. IBM Systems Hardware configuration: 1 LPAR running Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® 9.4 with 6 cores (SMT), 128 GB memory. Results may vary.
11 IBM® internal performance tests for the core consolidation study targeted a comparison of the following servers. IBM Machine Type 9175 MAX 136 system consisting of three CPC drawers containing 136 configurable processor units and six I/O drawers to support both network and external storage. The x86 solution used a commercially available enterprise server with two 5th generation Intel® Xeon® Platinum 8592+ processors, 64 cores per CPU. Both solutions had access to the same storage. Results may vary. The test results were extrapolated to a typical, complete customer IT solution that includes isolated from each other production and non-production IT environments. TCO included software, hardware, energy, network, data center space, and labor costs. On the IBM z17 side the complete solution requires one IBM z17 Type 9175 MAX 136, and on x86 side, the complete IT solution requires 23 compared servers.

Media Contact: 

Amy Angelini
IBM
alangeli@us.ibm.com 

IBM client and partner testimonials: 

Avid Solutions, Malcolm Adams, CEO  
“As labor markets tighten and skills gaps widen, agentic AI will help advance the intelligent workforce and have a profound impact on ecosystems and economies. We’ve used watsonx Orchestrate on AWS to automate repetitive tasks for customer service, project management and accounting, but we’re most excited about the enormous impact agentic AI and networks of agents working together will have on large scale challenges such as global supply chains. Watsonx provides the foundation for trustworthy AI while AWS provides the power to scale globally to transform entire industries.” 

Banco de Brasil, Paulo Andre, Chief Technology Officer 
“By leveraging IBM Z, LinuxONE, and Red Hat Openshift as part of our hybrid cloud strategy, Banco de Brasil has transformed how we serve our customers. With accelerated data processing, real-time insights, and resilient infrastructure across two separated data centers, we can deliver faster, personalized services while strengthening operational efficiency and business continuity to mitigate risk.” – Paulo Andre, Chief Technology Officer, Banco de Brasil 

BNP Paribas, Jean-Michel Garcia, Group Chief Technology Officer
“At BNP Paribas, building resilient and secure cloud foundations is key to supporting the bank’s digital transformation and delivering reliable services to our clients. Our extended partnership with IBM Cloud contributes to this effort and helps us accelerate our cloud-native strategy. These solid infrastructures are also an essential enabler for scaling generative AI use cases, across our businesses.” Jean-Michel Garcia, Group Chief Technology Officer, BNP Paribas

Cencora , Pawan Verma, Executive Vice President and Chief Data and Information Officer
“In today’s increasingly complex and ever-changing healthcare landscape, Cencora plays a vital role in advancing pharmaceutical innovation and access, helping our healthcare customers and their patients have timely and reliable access to the medicines they need,” said Pawan Verma, Executive Vice President and Chief Data and Information Officer, Cencora. “Our strategic digital transformation, powered by collaborations with technology leaders like IBM, will help streamline, improve, and digitize end-to-end business processes, supporting our continued growth and enabling us to deliver an enhanced ‘high-touch and high-tech’ customer experience.” 

Dynamiq , Vitalii Duk, Founder & CEO  
“At Dynamiq, we’re helping AI builders move faster from idea to deployment by using IBM watsonx capabilities alongside our platform. With the latest Granite models in watsonx.ai and embed tools and vector databases in watsonx.data, AI engineers using Dynamiq platform can rapidly prototype and deploy RAG systems, AI agents, and LLM applications. And with watsonx.governance, we’re giving teams the power to move fast – with built in trust and transparency.” 

EY, Martin Fiore, EY Americas Deputy Vice Chair – Tax  
“Tax compliance is a critical yet complex function for corporations that has long been associated with time-consuming and manual processes. Our collaboration with IBM connects the organization’s leading technology with EY’s deep domain expertise to deploy distinct AI-enabled tax solutions that enable workflow automation and unlocks data-driven insights for tax teams. We look forward to working with IBM to continue enhancing these solutions, using emerging technology to expand to other tax processes and ultimately helping businesses improve efficiency, cost and quality.” 

Honda, J Schumacher, Global Lead, Enterprise Architecture 
“At Honda, we are committed to scaling AI in a way that is responsible, human-centered, and deeply rooted in our core values of safety, trust, and respect for individuals,” said J Schumacher, Global Lead, Enterprise Architecture, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We are collaborating with IBM Consulting to help us shape the strategy and governance needed to scale AI responsibly and deliver lasting, meaningful impact across our organization.” 

Lockheed Martin, John Clark, senior vice president of Technology and Strategic Innovation  
“Through our Lockheed Martin AI Factory, we closely collaborate with leaders in commercial technology like IBM to deploy powerful AI solutions at scale for our national security customers,” said John Clark, senior vice president of Technology and Strategic Innovation at Lockheed Martin. “At the same time we are transforming our internal operations through AI tools to channel the ingenuity of our 70,000 engineers, scientists and technicians in ways that rapidly accelerate our innovation and efficiency, to get solutions out of the lab and into the field, helping create a safer, more secure world.” 

Lumen, Kate Johnson, president and CEO  
“Our edge network spans the U.S., giving businesses fast, direct access to their critical data and major cloud providers,” said Kate Johnson, president and CEO at Lumen Technologies. “By teaming up with IBM, we’re making it possible to run powerful AI applications without the added costs or risks of relying solely on the public cloud. It’s a faster, safer way for companies to bring generative AI and other groundbreaking digital tools into their everyday operations.” 

PepsiCo, Magesh Bagavathi, SVP, Global Head of Data, Analytics & AI
“PepsiCo is leading the AI transformation in the CPG industry, integrating it across the value chain to deliver meaningful impact for both our people and our customers. In collaboration with IBM Consulting, we’ve developed a robust generative AI platform designed to accelerate business value. By leveraging the full power of our ecosystem, this capability drives smarter decision-making, faster innovation, and a more connected, intelligent future.”
 
Slack, Peter Doolan, Chief Customer Officer  
“Every employee requires more agile solutions so they can get their work done at peak efficiency,” said Peter Doolan, Chief Customer Officer of Slack at Salesforce. “By working with partners like IBM to bring AI-powered solutions and agents into Slack, we’re delivering a seamless employee support experience that empowers users to focus on the high-impact work that truly matters.” 

State Street, Mostapha Tahiri, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 
“At State Street, we continue our transformation to a more robust, data-led, global financial services leader and are seeing the tremendous potential AI provides to shape investment services and investment management for the future,” said Mostapha Tahiri, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at State Street. “Unlocking the full value of AI begins with a strong, enterprise-wide data foundation, and we share a commitment with IBM to responsible innovation in the AI and data landscape.” 

UFC, Alon Cohen, Senior Vice President, UFC Research and Development  
“IBM’s deep expertise in data and technology made them a clear choice to serve as UFC’s Official Enterprise AI Partner and help bring the UFC Insights Engine to life. Using watsonx, we’re transforming years of fight data into compelling storylines – creating a newer and more dynamic layer of engagement between UFC’s global viewing audience and the action in the Octagon, taking the UFC experience to the next level.” 

Uptok , Kashif Zaman, CEO  
“The reality is, enterprise buyers aren’t just evaluating AI—they’re evaluating judgment. IBM gives us the foundation to demonstrate both. In AI, getting to eighty percent is fast. But in the enterprise, the final ten percent—performance, reliability, control—is where trust is made or lost. We didn’t pick IBM because it had the flashiest model—we picked it because it fits how we build AI.” 

USAA, Ramnik Bajaj, Chief Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Officer  
“At USAA, our unrelenting focus is on serving our members with excellence, and we are always looking for opportunities to implement the power of AI and data to further that goal,” said USAA Chief Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Officer Ramnik Bajaj. “In collaboration with IBM, we are working on ways to integrate structured and unstructured data at scale, to enable intelligent automation in processes like underwriting, claims, member feedback analysis and others that involve complex documents and require extensive processing. This will allow us to provide faster, more personalized service to our members and create more efficient workflows for our teams.” 

IBM Think 2025
IBM Think 2025

 

MALAYSIA’S BLOCKCHAIN ECOSYSTEM TO “LIFT OFF” TO GLOBAL HEIGHTS WITH MYBW RETURN

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The highly anticipated Malaysia Blockchain Week (MYBW) is back in 2025 to drive our blockchain ecosystem towards global prominence. The inaugural event returns after its successful debut last year, this time with a bold theme of “Lift-Off”, signifying a pivotal moment for Malaysia’s blockchain ecosystem to grow bigger, better, and badder.

Malaysia’s Blockchain Ecosystem To “Lift Off” To Global Heights With MYBW Return
Malaysia’s Blockchain Ecosystem To “Lift Off” To Global Heights With MYBW Return

“The theme ‘Lift-Off’ reflects our ambition to accelerate Malaysia’s role within the global sphere. MYBW aims to be the movement that brings together visionaries from across various sectors and industry to build real change.” – Dr Ian Tan, Lydian Labs.

Now in its second year, MYBW 2025 promises to once again serve as the launchpad in Malaysia for innovation, education, investments, and regulatory progress in the decentralised era.

Malaysia is well-poised to jet set into the future, with blockchain technology firmly backed by industry leaders as well as the national government.

“It’s clear that government leadership is essential in driving blockchain adoption—such as through digitisation and exploring tokenisation of financial instruments and other use cases. With the right steps, Malaysia can position itself at the forefront of this global digital transformation.” – Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim on X.

UPLIFTING CONNECTIONS

With Malaysia’s growing prominence in the global blockchain landscape, MYBW 2025 aims to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, project founders, venture capitalists, and Web3 pioneers to drive further growth.

MYBW’s focus is to bridge emerging blockchain opportunities with real-world applications to reinforce Malaysia’s burgeoning digital landscape in the global blockchain movement. From Web3 veterans to grassroots freshies, the Web3 playground has limitless potential for everyone.

As title sponsor of MYBW 2025, IOTA brings global credibility and nearly a decade of blockchain innovation to the event. IOTA stands out as one of the few projects in the industry that has consistently prioritized real-world adoption over short-term hype, delivering trusted infrastructure for governments, enterprises, and developers worldwide.

With the recent launch of its new Mainnet built on the Move programming language, IOTA delivers a secure, scalable, and programmable Layer 1 infrastructure that enables fast, cost-efficient transactions and advanced smart contract capabilities. As the first organization registered under the DLT Foundations Regulations of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and recognized as Shariah-compliant by the Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance, IOTA brings a unique blend of regulatory credibility and ethical alignment – making it an ideal partner to help elevate MYBW 2025 as a global hub for blockchain innovation.

“IOTA is proud to be the title sponsor of Malaysia Blockchain Week 2025, marking a shared commitment to inclusive innovation and responsible technology. With our new Mainnet, we offer a secure and efficient foundation for a truly decentralized digital economy – and we look forward to connecting with builders across Malaysia who are ready to build their solutions on IOTA,” says Dominik Schiener, Co-Founder and Chairman of the IOTA Foundation.

MYBW is working hand-in-hand with the digital collective ARC, while also being proudly supported by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Other official partners joining this cause include new L2 blockchain Titan Chain, AI-platform Aimazin, crypto investment platform Luno, accessible blockchain solutions provider Masverse, digital currency trading platform Tokenize Xchange, open metaverse activation blockchain The Root Network, and more. Stay tuned for more official information from our media partners Etherscan, bitcoin.com, and more.

With all the right people in the right place, this launchpad will create a powerful platform for meaningful dialogue, strategic collaboration, investment opportunities, and forward-thinking solutions.

READY, SET, GO

This year, visitors can look forward to stacked activities and opportunities to network with both local and international names.

Keep an eye out for exclusive airdrop giveaways, keynotes, and various activations that truly bridge the gap between Web3 and reality. MYBW 2025 also welcomes the return of their popular Hackathon, Demo Day, VC Pitch Sessions and more than 100 side events to make the week a truly accomplished one.

Early bird tickets for MYBW are already available on the official website. There are a limited number of discounted tickets, so grab yours today!

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: 21 – 22 July 2025
Location: World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL)
Website details: https://myblockchainweek.com/

About Lydian Labs

Lydian Labs is a full stack Web3 solutions provider focused on the APAC region and China, providing 3 main pillars of services: Advisory, Tech, and Marketing.

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To know more about Lydian Labs, visit https://bit.ly/LydianLabs or find them on X (formerly known as Twitter).

 

 

 

IBM Study: CEOs Double Down on AI While Navigating Enterprise Hurdles

  • CEO respondents say they expect the growth rate of AI investments will more than double over the next two years
  • 50% of surveyed CEOs report that rapid investment has resulted in disconnected technology within their organization

ARMONK, N.Y., May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new global study by the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value found that surveyed CEOs are committed to advancing AI solutions across their organization even as they face challenges from accelerating technology adoption.

IBM CEO study
IBM CEO study

The IBM CEO study,* which surveyed 2,000 CEOs globally, revealed that executive respondents expect the growth rate of AI investments to more than double in the next two years, and 61% confirm they are actively adopting AI agents today and preparing to implement them at scale.

According to the findings, 68% of surveyed CEOs identify integrated enterprise-wide data architecture as critical for cross-functional collaboration, and 72% view their organization’s proprietary data as key to unlocking the value of generative AI. However, the research indicates organizations may be struggling to cultivate an effective data environment: half (50%) of respondents acknowledge that the pace of recent investments has left their organization with disconnected, piecemeal technology.

In the foreword of the study, IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn writes, “As AI adoption accelerates creating greater efficiency, and productivity gains, the ultimate pay-off will only come to CEOs with the courage to embrace risk as opportunity. Meaning, focusing on what you can control, especially when there is so much you can’t. When the business environment is uncertain, using AI and your enterprise data to identify where you have leverage is a competitive advantage. At this point, leaders who aren’t leveraging AI and their own data to move forward are making a conscious business decision not to compete.”

“CEOs are balancing the pressures of short-term ROI and investing in long-term innovation when it comes to adopting AI,” said Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting. “But we know that organizations that keep innovating, especially during periods of uncertainty, will emerge stronger and be better positioned to capitalize on new opportunities.”

Other key findings include:

CEOs face competing pressures of short-term ROI and long-term innovation

  • Surveyed CEOs report that only 25% of AI initiatives have delivered expected ROI over the last few years, and only 16% have scaled enterprise wide.
  • To accelerate progress, two-thirds (65%) of CEO respondents say their organization is leaning into AI use cases based on ROI, with 68% reporting that their organization has clear metrics to measure innovation ROI effectively.
  • Just over half (52%) of CEO respondents say their organization is realizing value from generative AI investments beyond cost reduction.
  • 64% of CEOs surveyed acknowledge that the risk of falling behind drives investment in some technologies before they have a clear understanding of the value they bring to the organization, but only 37% say it’s better to be “fast and wrong” than “right and slow” when it comes to technology adoption.
  • 59% of surveyed CEOs admit their organization struggles to balance funding for existing operations and investment in innovation when unexpected change occurs, as 67% say more budget flexibility is needed to capitalize on digital opportunities that drive long-term growth and innovation.
  • By 2027, 85% of surveyed CEOs expect their investments in scaled AI efficiency and cost savings to have returned a positive ROI, while 77% expect to see a positive return from their investments in scaled AI growth and expansion.

CEOs see strategic leadership and specialized talent as essential to unlocking AI value, amid expertise and skills gaps

  • 69% of CEO respondents say their organization’s success is directly tied to maintaining a broad group of leaders with a deep understanding of strategy and the authority to make critical decisions.
  • 67% of CEOs surveyed say that differentiation depends on having the right expertise in the right positions with the right incentives.
  • CEOs cite lack of collaboration across organizational silos, aversion to risk and disruption, and lack of expertise and knowledge as top barriers to innovation in their organization.
  • Surveyed CEOs say roughly one-third (31%) of the workforce will require retraining and/or reskilling over the next three years, while 65% say their organization will use automation to address skill gaps.
  • 54% of CEO respondents say they are hiring for roles related to AI that did not exist a year ago.

To view the full study, visit: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/c-suite-study/ceo

*Study Methodology
The IBM Institute for Business Value, in cooperation with Oxford Economics, surveyed 2,000 CEOs from 33 countries and 24 industries between February and April 2025. Survey questions covered several key areas, including organizational performance, strategic priorities and innovation challenges. The survey also explored how companies manage change, adopt technology like AI, make decisions, leadership approaches, talent strategies, cultural readiness for transformation, collaboration efforts and regulatory concerns.

The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM’s thought leadership think tank, combines global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit: www.ibm.com/ibv. To receive more insights, subscribe to the IdeaWatch newsletter: https://ibm.co/ibv-ideawatch

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact
Marisa Conway
IBM Communications
conwaym@us.ibm.com

IBM Corporation logo.
IBM Corporation logo.

Northern Thai Capital, Chiang Mai Shines Selected Host City of 6 International Conferences in 2025

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai enhances its performances as a MICE destination when the city wins trust to host 6 international conferences in 2025 and makes another stride in securing at least 1 international conference for 2026.

Northern Thai Capital, Chiang Mai Shines Selected Host City of 6 International Conferences in 2025
Northern Thai Capital, Chiang Mai Shines Selected Host City of 6 International Conferences in 2025

While Bangkok is mostly selected to stage international conferences, a sign of the diversification of host destination is now emerging. This year, Chiang Mai, a MICE City and economic center in northern Thailand, is a prime example when it is chosen to host 6 international conferences of various fields – engineering, medicine, environmental science and social science.

Each conference will take place in different venues, showing rich choices of properties in Chiang Mai. From Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre to convention halls of five-star hotels.

Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) stated: “We are proud that Chiang Mai, one of Thailand’s MICE Cities in the destination competitiveness plan of TCEB, has earned international confidence. The totally different venues chosen to host each conference speak volume of how organisers can maximise the capacity of Chiang Mai. What’s special is that while it offers comfort and convenience of modern-day city life, Chiang Mai features the setting of unique “Lanna” culture, beautiful ecological attractions and wealth of activities contributing to local communities. The city, thus, can ensure memorable and meaningful experiences of international delegates.”

The 6 international conferences which are expected to bring in 3,600 delegates are:

  • The 25th Asia-Australia Conference of Radiological Technologist (AACRT 2025) during 5-7 June at Chiangmai Grandview Hotel & Convention Center
  • The 7th International Conference on Public Policy 2025 (ICPP) during 2-4 July at Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre
  • The 15th International Conference on Precision Engineering and Sustainable Manufacturing (PRESM) during 6-11 July at Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel
  • The Society of Instrument and Control Engineer Annual Conference (SICE) during 9-12 September at The Empress Hotel and Convention Centre
  • The 39th International Conference on Information Networking (ICOIN 2025) taking place during 15-17 January at Kantary Hills Hotel
  • The 2nd International Conference on Materials for Green Future taking place during 28 April – 1 May at Shangri-La Chiang Mai

The most updated win of Chiang Mai is that the city was chosen in March 2025 by International Festivals & Events Association – Asia (IFEA-Asia) to host IFEA Asia Pinnacle Awards & Asia Festival City Conference 2026 which is due between 4 and 6 February. This follows the success of the city in winning Asia Festival Award 2025 – Asia World Heritage City and Festival Asia Pinnacle Awards – Best Event Program & Best PR & Marketing for Yi Peng Festival.

Chiang Mai can be reached by 1.15 hrs flight from Bangkok and its international airport also operates direct flights to and from Phuket and Krabi in the South and Khon Kaen in the Northeast. For international flights, Chiang Mai is accessible from Mainland China, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar and Taiwan.

For more information, contact TCEB at: pr@tceb.or.th

Thailand MICE – Meet the Magic

About TCEB

A LEADING AGENCY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAILAND’S MICE INDUSTRY

Established in 2004, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB – the government agency under the supervision of the Prime Minister – has been assigned a role to promote, support and develop business events industry – corporate meetings, incentive trips, conventions, exhibitions, mega events and world festivals. Serving as a strategic partner, TCEB helps deliver creative ideas and solutions to bring success and fulfill the requirements of business events. The overarching goal is to drive Thailand to become a global MICE and mega events destination that can drive the country’s strategic industries and national economy.

Born for Gaming: Brook Saviortop Gaming Laptop Cooler Launches!

TAIPEI, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With the rapid advancement of gaming laptop performance, more users are turning to notebooks for demanding tasks like 3A gaming, video editing, and streaming. Brook proudly introduces the Saviortop Gaming Laptop Cooler— a gaming-focused cooling solution designed to unlock the full potential of entry- to mid-tier gaming laptops. This external laptop cooling pad not only stabilizes system performance but also helps prolong device life and eliminate gameplay disruptions caused by heat.

Brook Saviortop Gaming Laptop Cooler
Brook Saviortop Gaming Laptop Cooler

Powerful Thermal Performance

The Saviortop laptop fan is equipped with a high-speed 3500RPM turbo fan and Brook’s exclusive memory foam airflow sealing ring. This unique structure increases airflow pressure and locks the airflow path directly onto the laptop’s thermal output zones. In real-world tests, the Saviortop reduces CPU/GPU temperatures by up to 20°C, keeping frame rates stable and gameplay smooth even under maximum load.

Broad Compatibility – The Best Laptop Cooling Pad for 17″ Models and Beyond

Saviortop is engineered as a 17 laptop cooling pad, compatible with laptops from 10″ to 19″. It offers a secure fit for large gaming laptops such as the MSI GE series, ROG Strix, GIGABYTE AORUS, and more — without edge obstruction or wobble.

A Versatile Cooling Pad Built for Gamers

  • Ergonomic dual-angle stand to relieve shoulder and neck strain during extended sessions
  • Three USB expansion ports + Type-C power input for clean, convenient setups
  • Six customizable RGB lighting modes for immersive ambiance
  • Patented adjustable stand angle for viewing comfort and placement stability

The Brook Saviortop Gaming Laptop Cooler is more than just an accessory — it’s your trusted laptop cooling solution for smoother, longer, and cooler gaming. Designed for today’s most demanding workloads, it upgrades system thermal efficiency, revitalizes older laptops, and mitigates the overheating and throttling common in modern systems.

Purchase Information:
Brook Shop: https://brook.gg/SaviortopOfficialStore

http://www.brookaccessory.com

Fangzhou Launches Otsuka’s Third-Generation Leukemia Drug Ponatinib on its Platform

GUANGZHOU, China, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fangzhou Inc. (“Fangzhou” or the “Company”) (06086.HK), a leader in Internet healthcare solutions, announced the availability of Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) Iclusig® (ponatinib) through its online platform, providing expanded treatment options for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Iclusig®, approved in China in September 2024, has demonstrated particular efficacy against T315I-mutated BCR::ABL1 disease that is resistant to first and second generation TKIs, with the OPTIC trial showing a four-year survival rate of 88% among certain patient cohorts.

Dr. Xie Fangmin, founder, chairman, and CEO of Fangzhou, commented, “As a platform focused on patient-centered healthcare, we are committed to bringing innovative treatments such as Iclusig® to Chinese patients through our digital healthcare ecosystem.”

Deep Collaboration with Pharmaceutical Companies

Fangzhou has developed strong partnerships with leading domestic and multinational pharmaceutical companies, along with a comprehensive drug supply chain spanning multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, liver disease, and cardiovascular, and now offering over 210,000 drug SKUs to meet the diverse needs patient chronic disease patients. By harnessing AI, big data, and cloud computing technologies, Fangzhou is focused on continually enhancing its health management services. In addition, the company’s proprietary “AI Personal Health Assistant” and other innovative tools help to improve medication safety and enhance treatment adherence.

AI-enabled Full-cycle Healthcare

Fangzhou delivers comprehensive health services enabled by AI technology. Through the company’s “AI + H2H Smart Healthcare Platform,” patients can access online medical consultations and personalized health recommendations designed to enhance their quality of life. By combining access to innovative drugs with precision health services, Fangzhou is reshaping full-cycle health management through its “technology + care” approach. Looking ahead, the company plans to deepen AI integration within its Internet-based medical services while expanding partnerships with leading global pharmaceutical companies in order to bring more breakthrough treatments and cutting-edge innovations to patients and their families.

About Fangzhou Inc.

Fangzhou Inc. (06086.HK) is China’s leading online chronic disease management platform, serving 49.2 million registered users and 223,000 physicians (as of December 31, 2024). The Company specializes in delivering tailored medical care and precision medicine solutions. For more information, visit https://investors.jianke.com.

Media Contact

For further inquiries or interviews, please reach out to:

Xingwei Zhao Associate Director of Public Relations Email: pr@jianke.com 

Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements

PPA TOUR ASIA LAUNCHES 2025 CALENDAR WITH CHINA SLAM IN THE SPOTLIGHT

SINGAPORE, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The global pickleball revolution is set to break new ground with the announcement of the inaugural PPA Tour Asia events for 2025. Having already found success in the USA, the premier tour is ready to deliver an unmatched pickleball experience to a new corner of globe. PPA Tour Asia will launch with five tournaments on the initial calendar, headlined by the China Slam.

PPA TOUR ASIA LAUNCHES 2025 CALENDAR WITH CHINA SLAM IN THE SPOTLIGHT
PPA TOUR ASIA LAUNCHES 2025 CALENDAR WITH CHINA SLAM IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PPA Tour Asia features a three-tier tournament structure – Slam, Cup and Open events – ensuring all regions and levels of competition experience the premier pickleball tour. Points earned at these events count towards the PPA Tour Asia Rankings, as players chase the prestigious No.1 crown – the ultimate recognition for dominance in Asian professional pickleball.

  • Slam: 2000 points with an estimated US$1 million in prize money and payouts, bringing together elite international talent including top American pros, Australian pros and Asia’s best players.
  • Cup: 1500 points and an estimated US$500,000 each in prize money and payouts, showcasing fierce competition among established regional professionals and rising stars.
  • Open: 1000 points and a minimum of US$50,000 in prize money, elevate regional talent and grow the sport throughout Asia.

Malaysia, one of the fastest-growing regions for pickleball in the world, will host the tour’s opening event in July. The schedule then moves into an exciting East Asian swing, with back-to-back tournaments in Hong Kong and Japan in August.

The season then peaks with the China Slam, bringing the premier tier to the most populous country in the world. Scheduled for October 1-5 during China’s Golden Week holiday celebrations, the tournament offers an ideal opportunity to showcase pickleball and put a spotlight on the emerging sport.

  • Panas Kuala Lumpur Open | July 3-6
  • Hong Kong Open | August 19-24
  • Sansan Fukuoka Open | August 26-31
  • China Slam | October 1-5
  • Kuala Lumpur Cup | October 9-12

“With the launch of the PPA Tour Asia calendar, we’re bringing world-class pickleball action to the fastest-growing markets in the sport. From Malaysia to China, these events will showcase the best talent while creating new opportunities for players and fans across the region. The China Slam is also part of the UPA International Championship Series, creating the foundation of pickleball’s global expansion.” Kimberly Koh, Managing Director, UPA Asia.

More events for 2025 will be announced soon.

To keep up to date on the latest pickleball news, head to ppatour-asia.com

About UPA | PPA Tour Asia

UPA Asia, operating the PPA Tour Asia, is the premier professional and amateur pickleball tour in Asia, dedicated to expanding the sport’s highest level across the region. We focus on developing professional athletes through world-class events, elite training programs, and professional pathways while engaging new fans and growing participation. By forging strategic partnerships and delivering exceptional tournament experiences, we’re positioning pickleball as a leading sport in Asia. For more information, please contact: media@upa-asia.com.

PPA Tour Asia: Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | LinkedIn

Olea and Riverchain announce strategic partnership to address working capital challenges in construction industry

HONG KONG and SINGAPORE, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Olea Global Pte Ltd (“Olea”) and Riverchain International Ltd (“Riverchain”) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership aimed at addressing the significant working capital lock-up in the construction industry. This collaboration will leverage both companies’ expertise to provide innovative financing solutions tailored specifically for construction companies, particularly SMEs that are often underserved by tradition financial institutions.

collaboration combines Olea's global financing capabilities with Riverchain's specialised knowledge of the construction sector to deliver innovative working capital solutions specifically designed for construction companies, with a focus on underserved SMEs.
collaboration combines Olea’s global financing capabilities with Riverchain’s specialised knowledge of the construction sector to deliver innovative working capital solutions specifically designed for construction companies, with a focus on underserved SMEs.

The partnership will combine Olea’s global financing capabilities with Riverchain’s specialised knowledge and asset origination expertise of the construction sector to deliver efficient working capital solutions for construction businesses across the APAC region.

Ben Wong, CEO of Riverchain, said: “The construction sector faces unique challenges, such as payment delays and cash flow management issues, which can severely impact business operations and growth, ultimately compromising the project supply chain. This partnership with Olea enhances our ability to take a technology-led approach to deliver more comprehensive and efficient financing solutions that address payment delays and provide the liquidity needed for construction companies to take on new projects without financial constraints. Together, we aim to transform how construction businesses manage working capital.”

Amelia Ng, CEO of Olea ,  said: “We are delighted to partner with Riverchain to extend our financing solutions to the construction industry, which has traditionally faced significant working capital challenges. This collaboration allows us to demystify what has often been an opaque supply chain by leveraging our joint technologies to provide specialized funding options. These solutions address the unique payment cycles and liquidity needs of the construction sector, helping businesses grow sustainably while managing cash flow effectively.”

The construction industry is known for its extended payment terms and complex supply chains, which often create working capital pressures for contractors and suppliers. Add to this a volatile economic environment, characterised by rising material costs and skilled labour shortages. This partnership aims to alleviate these challenges by providing accessible, flexible financing solutions designed specifically for construction payment cycles.

The Riverchain-Olea partnership plans to finance construction projects, focusing on Asia-Pacific markets. Experts predict continued growth in the sector, with the Asia-Pacific construction output expected to reach USD 8.65 trillion by 2030. However, working capital constraints remain a significant barrier, particularly for small and medium-sized contractors. The Riverchain-Olea solution addresses this working capital lock-up through digitalized financing processes that provide faster access to capital and greater visibility across project payment cycles.

About Riverchain

Riverchain is a trusted provider of working capital solutions to the construction industry. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Riverchain is actively expanding its footprint across the Southeast Asian region. Having already supported 1,200 construction businesses in Hong Kong, Riverchain provides cash advances of up to 90% on invoices—allowing companies to receive payments up to 60 days before their original expected date.

Beyond financing, Riverchain is building a more transparent and resilient construction ecosystem through the proprietary technology that improves visibility of project performance and payment flows. Through Riverchain’s specialised industry knowledge and digital infrastructure, Riverchain is modernising construction finance and empowering businesses across the supply chain to grow confidently and sustainably.

About Olea

Olea is a digital infrastructure platform that connects global liquidity with trade and supply chain opportunities, fuelling growth and unlocking potential worldwide. Olea has diverse liquidity pools with varying appetite and focuses, Olea’s vision is to connect capital to opportunity. It has a strong conviction in the role of trade to support sustainable economic development across countries, particularly emerging markets, particularly Asia where many smaller suppliers are based. Olea supports suppliers and buyers in over 70 corridors.